Transitions Championship news and notes

By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 19, 2011

Scott Stallings, who had made the cut only once in six other PGA Tour events this season, shot himself into contention with 5-under 66 in the third round of the Transitions Championship on Saturday and was two strokes off the lead at 11-under 202. Stallings got into the tournament the only way he could: a sponsor's exemption. Stallings, 25, was one of 50 players to qualify for the PGA Tour through the Nationwide Tour and Q-school. After tournaments are filled with the past winner and the top 125 from last year's money list, the field is filled with the 50 players such as Stallings based on their ranking. Stallings started at No. 26, which would have gotten him into almost every tournament. But after six events, the PGA Tour shuffles the rankings based on results, and with only one cut made, Stallings dropped to the bottom. A blogger for bnet.com, Stallings wrote of the reshuffling — brutally, he says — and about his struggles. "It's kind of like an extreme performance review that's then posted on the Web for everyone to see — with my earnings right next to it ($0, in case you were wondering)," he wrote. "But that's the nature of this job." Last week, Stallings made his first cut and tied for 42nd at the Puerto Rico Open. He cashed his first PGA check for $11,261 but is in position today for a much bigger payday. "Well, I made money last week, which is nice," he said. "So obviously I'll make something this week, which anything will be better than where I was."

Two in a row?

Nick Watney is lurking.

Watney, who won the WGC-Cadillac Championship last week at Doral, stumbled Friday with 1-over 72 but shot 6-under 65 to sit at 10-under 203 — three back of the lead — heading into the final round.

"I just feel much more fresh (Saturday)," said Watney, right. "(Friday), I don't know, it was just a very flat — I don't know if it was kind of a letdown or tired or what, but just very flat, very sloppy all day."

Watney might have found his second wind on a plate of stuffed peppers. After his 72, he skipped practice and chilled with his wife, who made him dinner.

"It was excellent," he said. "We just kind of took it easy and rested. I think that was the best decision that we could have made."

Sergio's a bogey man

Sergio Garcia couldn't make a bogey the first two days.

On Saturday, he couldn't avoid them.

The only player with a bogey-free tournament heading into the third round made five of them on the way to 1-over 72.

The Spaniard had three bogeys and three birdies on the front nine and two more bogeys (with one birdie) on the back to drop six strokes out of the lead at 7-under 206.

Dunking for Appleby

Stuart Appleby had the worst round of the day, shooting 6-over 77 after opening the tournament with 67-69.

Appleby had problems all day hitting fairways and greens. After bogeying just one hole on the front nine in the first two rounds, he was 1 over on No. 2 and Nos. 4-7.

A couple of double bogeys on the back nine, including a water shot on No. 16, made for a long day.

John C. Cotey can be reached at cotey@sptimes.com.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/golf/transitions-championship-news-and-notes/1158579

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